What Is a Producer Statement? A Complete Guide for NZ Building Professionals

What Is a Producer Statement?

A producer statement is a written declaration signed by a suitably qualified building professional confirming that their design, construction, or inspection work complies with the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC). It is not a guarantee, but rather a professional opinion — backed by the signatory's qualifications, experience, and knowledge of the work carried out.

Producer statements are a critical part of the building consent process in New Zealand. Building consent authorities (BCAs) — including Auckland Council, Wellington City Council, Christchurch City Council, and others — rely on them to assess whether proposed or completed building work meets the requirements of the Building Act 2004 and the NZBC.

Why Are Producer Statements Required in New Zealand?

New Zealand's building consent system places significant responsibility on building professionals to self-certify that their work is code-compliant. Rather than having a council inspector verify every aspect of every build, BCAs accept producer statements from qualified professionals as evidence of compliance.

This system is underpinned by Section 45 of the Building Act 2004, which allows BCAs to accept producer statements as part of a building consent application or as evidence during inspections. For complex structures, specialist systems, or work requiring specific expertise (such as engineering design or fire systems), a producer statement is often the only practical way to demonstrate code compliance.

Who Can Sign a Producer Statement?

The person signing a producer statement must be suitably qualified to make the declarations contained within it. In practice, this typically means:

• Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) for construction-related statements (PS3, PS4)
• Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng) or registered engineers for design statements (PS1, PS2)
• Licensed plumbers and drainlayers for specialist trade sub-forms
• Licensed electricians for electrical sub-forms under PS3
• Fire engineers for specified systems statements

The BCA receiving the producer statement will consider the signatory's qualifications when deciding whether to accept it. Signing a producer statement outside your area of competence is a serious professional and legal risk.

The Four Types of Producer Statements in New Zealand

There are four standard producer statement types used in NZ building projects, each covering a different phase or type of work:

PS1 — Design

A PS1 is provided by the designer of a building or system confirming that their design complies with the NZBC. It is typically submitted with a building consent application. PS1 statements are most commonly signed by engineers (structural, geotechnical, fire) or architects for complex or engineered aspects of a design.

PS2 — Design Review

A PS2 is provided by a professional who has independently reviewed someone else's design and confirms it complies with the NZBC. PS2 statements are used when a BCA requires peer review of a design, or when a second qualified professional reviews work before construction begins.

PS3 — Construction

A PS3 is the most common producer statement in everyday building work. It is provided by the building professional responsible for the construction work, confirming the work has been carried out in accordance with an approved design and complies with the NZBC. LBPs routinely complete PS3 statements for general building work. Specialist sub-forms (plumbing, drainage, electrical, fire) sit under the PS3 umbrella.

PS4 — Construction Review

A PS4 is provided by a professional who has reviewed construction work (done by someone else) and confirms it has been built in accordance with the approved design and the NZBC. PS4 statements are used for independent monitoring or review of construction.

What Information Does a Producer Statement Contain?

A standard producer statement includes:

• The type of producer statement (PS1, PS2, PS3, or PS4)
• The address and building consent number
• A description of the scope of work covered
• The relevant NZBC clauses being addressed
• The signatory's full name, qualifications, and registration number
• A professional declaration of code compliance
• Signature and date

Many BCAs have their own preferred producer statement forms. Auckland Council, for example, uses the AC2310 form for general PS3 statements, along with specialist sub-forms for specific trades (AC2335 for plumbing, AC2337 for electricians, AC2338 for drainlayers, and others).

Producer Statements and Specified Systems

For buildings with specified systems — fire alarms, sprinklers, emergency lighting, mechanical ventilation, and other building systems regulated under Schedule 1 of the Building Act — a separate compliance schedule and commissioning statement process applies alongside the standard producer statement framework.

Specified Systems statements confirm that a regulated building system has been installed and commissioned in accordance with its performance specifications and the NZBC.

Common Mistakes with Producer Statements

• Using the wrong form type for the work being certified
• Leaving NZBC clauses blank or selecting incorrect clauses
• Signing for work outside your area of competence or LBP licence class
• Failing to include the building consent number
• Submitting a PS before work is complete
• Using an outdated form version not accepted by the BCA

Getting these details right the first time prevents delays to your consent or code compliance certificate (CCC). See our guide on why BCAs reject producer statements for a full breakdown of what to watch out for.

Simplifying Producer Statements with PS Express

Completing producer statements correctly and consistently is time-consuming when done on paper or with generic PDF tools. PS Express is a New Zealand-built mobile application designed specifically for LBPs, engineers, plumbers, drainlayers, and electricians who need to generate compliant producer statements quickly and accurately — directly from their phone, on-site.

The app pre-fills your professional details, guides you through NZBC clause selection, generates a signed PDF in seconds, and automatically emails it to you and your client. Every statement is stored and organised by building consent number — making audits, CCC applications, and record-keeping straightforward.